NORdic trial of oral Methylprednisolone as add-on therapy to Interferon beta-1a for treatment of relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis (NORMIMS study): a randomised, placebo-controlled trial
(2009) In Lancet Neurology 8(6). p.519-529- Abstract
- Background Treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis with interferon beta is only partly effective, and new more effective and safe strategies are needed. Our aim was to assess the efficacy of oral methylprednisolone as an add-on therapy to subcutaneous interferon beta-1a to reduce the yearly relapse rate in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Methods NORMIMS (NORdic trial of oral Methylprednisolone as add-on therapy to Interferon beta-1a for treatment of relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis) was a randomised, placebo-controlled trial done in 29 neurology departments in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland. We enrolled outpatients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis who had had at least one relapse... (More)
- Background Treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis with interferon beta is only partly effective, and new more effective and safe strategies are needed. Our aim was to assess the efficacy of oral methylprednisolone as an add-on therapy to subcutaneous interferon beta-1a to reduce the yearly relapse rate in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Methods NORMIMS (NORdic trial of oral Methylprednisolone as add-on therapy to Interferon beta-1a for treatment of relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis) was a randomised, placebo-controlled trial done in 29 neurology departments in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland. We enrolled outpatients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis who had had at least one relapse within the previous 12 months despite subcutaneous interferon beta-1a treatment (44 mu g three times per week). We randomly allocated patients by computer to add-on therapy of either 200 mg methylprednisolone or matching placebo, both given orally on 5 consecutive days every 4 weeks for at least 96 weeks. The primary outcome measure was mean yearly relapse rate. Primary analyses were by intention to treat. This trial is registered, number ISRCTN16202527. Findings 66 patients were assigned to interferon beta and oral methylprednisolone and 64 were assigned to interferon beta and placebo. A high proportion of patients withdrew from the study before week 96 (26% [17 of 661 on methylprednisolone vs 17% [11 of 641 on placebo). The mean yearly relapse rate was 0.22 for methylprednisolone compared with 0.59 for placebo (62% reduction, 95% CI 39-77%; p<0.0001). Sleep disturbance and neurological and psychiatric symptoms were the most frequent adverse events recorded in the methylprednisolone group. Bone mineral density had not changed after 96 weeks. Interpretation Oral methylprednisolone given in pulses every 4 weeks as an add-on therapy to subcutaneous interferon beta-1a in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis leads to a significant reduction in relapse rate. However, because of the small number of patients and the high dropout rate, these findings need to be corroborated in larger cohorts. (Less)
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- Sorensen, Per Soelberg ; Mellgren, Svein Ivar ; Svenningsson, Anders ; Elovaara, Irina ; Frederiksen, Jette Lautrup ; Beiske, Antonie Giaever ; Myhr, Kjell-Morten ; Sogaard, Lise Vejby ; Olsen, Inge Christoffer and Sandberg Wollheim, Magnhild LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2009
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Lancet Neurology
- volume
- 8
- issue
- 6
- pages
- 519 - 529
- publisher
- Lancet Publishing Group
- external identifiers
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- wos:000266287900013
- scopus:65549144672
- ISSN
- 1474-4465
- DOI
- 10.1016/S1474-4422(09)70085-7
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
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- 31c46be0-b256-4039-8790-adbfc2b1cb08 (old id 1425604)
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- 2016-04-01 12:22:16
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@article{31c46be0-b256-4039-8790-adbfc2b1cb08,
abstract = {{Background Treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis with interferon beta is only partly effective, and new more effective and safe strategies are needed. Our aim was to assess the efficacy of oral methylprednisolone as an add-on therapy to subcutaneous interferon beta-1a to reduce the yearly relapse rate in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Methods NORMIMS (NORdic trial of oral Methylprednisolone as add-on therapy to Interferon beta-1a for treatment of relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis) was a randomised, placebo-controlled trial done in 29 neurology departments in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland. We enrolled outpatients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis who had had at least one relapse within the previous 12 months despite subcutaneous interferon beta-1a treatment (44 mu g three times per week). We randomly allocated patients by computer to add-on therapy of either 200 mg methylprednisolone or matching placebo, both given orally on 5 consecutive days every 4 weeks for at least 96 weeks. The primary outcome measure was mean yearly relapse rate. Primary analyses were by intention to treat. This trial is registered, number ISRCTN16202527. Findings 66 patients were assigned to interferon beta and oral methylprednisolone and 64 were assigned to interferon beta and placebo. A high proportion of patients withdrew from the study before week 96 (26% [17 of 661 on methylprednisolone vs 17% [11 of 641 on placebo). The mean yearly relapse rate was 0.22 for methylprednisolone compared with 0.59 for placebo (62% reduction, 95% CI 39-77%; p<0.0001). Sleep disturbance and neurological and psychiatric symptoms were the most frequent adverse events recorded in the methylprednisolone group. Bone mineral density had not changed after 96 weeks. Interpretation Oral methylprednisolone given in pulses every 4 weeks as an add-on therapy to subcutaneous interferon beta-1a in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis leads to a significant reduction in relapse rate. However, because of the small number of patients and the high dropout rate, these findings need to be corroborated in larger cohorts.}},
author = {{Sorensen, Per Soelberg and Mellgren, Svein Ivar and Svenningsson, Anders and Elovaara, Irina and Frederiksen, Jette Lautrup and Beiske, Antonie Giaever and Myhr, Kjell-Morten and Sogaard, Lise Vejby and Olsen, Inge Christoffer and Sandberg Wollheim, Magnhild}},
issn = {{1474-4465}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{6}},
pages = {{519--529}},
publisher = {{Lancet Publishing Group}},
series = {{Lancet Neurology}},
title = {{NORdic trial of oral Methylprednisolone as add-on therapy to Interferon beta-1a for treatment of relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis (NORMIMS study): a randomised, placebo-controlled trial}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(09)70085-7}},
doi = {{10.1016/S1474-4422(09)70085-7}},
volume = {{8}},
year = {{2009}},
}